lug pattern is right but the center is off

[stuntsteve]

I just bought new wheels and tires for my 76 Soveriegn. I brought the original wheel to a tire place and the they sent me home with what they assured me was the correct wheel for my airstream. When I put one on the lug pattern matched up but the center hole was bigger by a smidge. Is this OK? It seems wrong to me. Any help? Thanks.

[2airishuman]

yes a smidge larger is fine.

the wheels are LUG centric not hub centric.

so it's the lug/stud HOLES that matter not the hub hole.

which means as long as the load rating, offset and bolt pattern match,

AND the nuts are torqued correctly...

you've got matching rims.
________

1 last point is balancing LUG centric rims...

""A lug centric wheel should be mounted with a cone from the backside
and an adapter flange plate against the front side.
The fingers on the flange plate must be properly positioned
so they line up with the lug holes in the wheel.
This is necessary to center the wheel on the WHEEL balancer shaft.
If this is not done, the results will not be 100 percent accurate or repeatable.""



cheers
2air'

[Minno]

I quite agree with 2air. Keep the lug nuts torqued correctly, and you'll be fine.

Chris

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by stuntsteve

I just bought new wheels and tires for my 76 Soveriegn. I brought the original wheel to a tire place and the they sent me home with what they assured me was the correct wheel for my airstream. When I put one on the lug pattern matched up but the center hole was bigger by a smidge. Is this OK? It seems wrong to me. Any help? Thanks.

What weight rating wheel did you get?

They should be a minimum of 2600 pound rating, as per Airstream.

Auto wheels do not meet that weight rating.

Andy

[vswingfield]

In addition to the good info already posted, the smidge larger hole leaves room for a center cap to be installed. See photo here. The cap is inserted through the hole from the back and the wheel holds it in place by pressing on the lip at the bottom.

[stuntsteve]

This was extremely helpful. Thanks eveybody! Where is a good source for new lug bolts?

[Distantdrummer]

What size are the heads on the 70's era lug bolts?
Need to buy a socket for a new impact wrench (1/2" drive).

BTW anyone have any impact wrench advice. Not sure yet how to set the torque.
(on the wrench or by means of air pressure at the compressor outlet). ?

thanks

Oh and as for the hub hole being oversized, I agree with above posters except it is a bear of a job sometimes to hold the wheel/tire up there to place the lug-bolts.It is especially hard when trying to lift it up and on the hole under a low side skirt. Lug nuts you can of course hang the wheel on the studs, not so with the bolts.One might get a little lever type device to lift and hold the wheel up. Sort of like a sheetrock hanger's lever-shim thing. Or make one yourself from lumber.

[2airishuman]

NO hub studs?

ONE headless threaded bolt (or stud with the flange removed)

hand screwed into the TOP hole

serves as a reliable hanger for the wheel.

this can be hand UNscrewed after the others are secure

then replaced with the last real fastener.

cheers
2air'

[howco]

Hey ANDY
I have a set of 15x7" aluminum 6 hole wheels off of an 89 Chev 1500 1/2 ton 4x4, ever heard of that truck wheel fitting an A/S??
They are factory rally wheel made by Alcoa.

[richinny]

i'm not andy but i've read his answers to this. they might fit but the trailer wheels need to be rated 2600 lbs. or higher.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...tml#post335379